Right, settle down class. We’ve got a lot to get through. Your assignment for 2021 is to get the best selling products online onto your e-commerce store before the competition does. And they’ve got to be profitable products that will earn you a good margin.
So in this blog we’re going to keep things nice and simple. We’ll show you 21 trending products in 2021 that will be profitable for your store (Why 21? Because it’s 2021, and we needed a number, OK?).
We’ll tell you why they’re popular now, and even throw in some handy marketing tips for good measure. Then you’ll add the ones you like to your store and enjoy the best year of online sales you’ve ever had. Deal?
Then let’s get into it.
1. Reusable water bottles are among trending products now
Why is this product popular in 2021?
Health conscious consumers are paying more and more importance to staying hydrated. What’s more, environmentally conscious consumers want to cut down on single-use plastics. Put these two trends together and you get an ever-growing demand for reusable water bottles. These products are simple to source and can be easily branded or customized, making them one of the best things to sell online for e-commerce entrepreneurs.
Tips on how to market this product:
Present this product as part of a green lifestyle. Sustainability is big in 2021, and reusable water bottles are a simple, easy way to make a difference. Practicality is also important, so make sure your product photos show the bottle in use so your customers get a sense of size and feel.
2. Board games
Why is this product popular in 2021?
Ever heard of the Netflix effect? Well, the boom in board games can (at least partially) be put down to the adrenaline shot Netflix has delivered to chess with its show The Queen’s Gambit. In late 2020 chess sets were one of the trending products to sell.
Of course, the fact that most of us are stuck indoors a lot more these days also helps. And while interest in chess might be something of a passing fashion, once people get hooked on board games they’re always on the lookout for more. So this can be one of those niche products with real potential.
Tips on how to market this product:
Seasonal sales are huge for this niche. So try building a loyal following over the year, then retarget your audience over Black Friday and the seasonal sales period with some one-off discounts.
3. Wireless charging stations
Why is this product popular in 2021?
There’s been a big jump in interest in wireless charging stations in the last two years. Just take a look at how the search volume on Google has surged.
This product area was already worth $6 billion in 2018, and a recent analysis of the wireless charging industry forecasts that its value will grow to over $40 billion in the next 6 years. That’s a huge jump, so now could be a great time to get into this product area. Wireless charging stations are becoming ever more affordable as the technology improves, plus there’s a wide range of product types and designs to choose from. So you’ll have plenty of options when it comes to sourcing what might just be one of your best selling products online.
Tips on how to market this product:
This could be a perfect product for reverse dropshipping as demand in Asia for consumer electronics is huge. If you’re looking to enter new markets, this could be your starter product.
4. Dog jackets
Why is this product popular in 2021?
Dog adoption rates have boomed over the last 12 months. Companion animals have proved to be a great source of happiness in challenging times. So products for pampering your pooch are on the up in 2021. These include dog jackets, which have seen steady growth in popularity in the last 5 years.
And with so many people having let a canine into their life last year, demand for this product should hold up well.
5. Yoga and Pilates mats
Why is this product popular in 2021?
Yoga mats are another steady grower in terms of things to sell online. As more of us get used to life without the gym and shift our exercise routines to home, mats for yoga, pilates and other bodyweight exercises are likely to maintain their popularity.
Tips on how to market this trending product:
Two words: social media. Get your audience sharing pictures of themselves using your products, and showcase the most positive ones using an Instagram feed on your Shopify store. Maintaining exercise routines is all about motivation, so aim to create an encouraging community on social media and post regular encouragement.
6. Jigsaw puzzles
Why is this product popular in 2021?
In terms of trending products to sell, good old fashioned jigsaw puzzles have been making a comeback in popularity in recent years. As the Google Trends data shows, this comeback really picked up momentum during the first lockdowns in 2020.
Getting into this product area can be a lot of fun, and has the potential to be very lucrative as well. You may be surprised to hear that, according to data on the puzzles market from Statista, this niche generates almost $700 million every year in the US. What’s more, it is forecast to grow by 3.3% every year. That means there is potential to successfully grow your e-commerce sales with these high demand products.
Tips on how to market this product:
The puzzles niche is surprisingly diverse. There are puzzles for kids and puzzles for adults. There are relaxing, easy-to-complete puzzles and uber-difficult 3D puzzles. So you should try to focus on specific products for a specific audience. This will make it easier to target ads effectively (don’t forget, you can use an ad automation tool like sixads to analyze and target your audience).
One target audience that it may be worth focusing on with this product is parents. They are constantly looking for alternatives to screen time for their kids, and puzzles are a great solution for this.
7. Laptop skins
Why is this product popular in 2021?
Laptop skins are popular products that tend to go through phases of higher and lower demand. As the Google Trends data for 2020 shows, this product was trending in late winter and mid-summer.
Of course, one of the great things about high demand products like laptop skins is that there will always be new laptop models and designs coming out, so there’s bound to be fresh interest. If you do want to target this niche, look out for the big laptop product launches that are coming in 2021 from major producers like Apple, ASUS, Lenovo, HP, and Dell. These could be big sales opportunities.
Tips on how to market this product:
One of the beauties of marketing laptop skins is that you can target specific branded keywords. Branded keywords are great for SEO because they tend to be easier to rank for than generic keywords. In other words, it will be easier to get a good page ranking for the keyword phrase “Laptop skins for ASUS” than it will be for the phrase “Laptop skins.”
Do some SEO research and see which keyword phrases for this niche are the easiest to rank well for. Then create some high-quality content focused on that brand’s products.
8. Posture corrector
Why is this product popular in 2021?
This has been one of the trending products to sell over the last 5 years, steadily growing in popularity. Take a look at the Google Trends data.
The reasons for this rise are not hard to figure out. As more and more of us earn our livings sitting at a desk working on our computers, maintaining good posture has become a more important issue.
Your posture doesn’t just affect how you look but also how you feel. Bad posture can cause pain, impact your energy levels, and lead to other injuries. Combine this list of problems with the fact that, thanks to remote working, we’re likely to spend even more time sitting, and you have the recipe for a best selling online product.
Although there is a range of different approaches to posture correction, most posture correctors are worn like a harness under your clothes. They push back your shoulders to keep your back straight. So, as a product for sourcing, you should be able to find both budget and high-end versions, depending on which audience you wish to target.
9. Phone tripods
Why is this product popular in 2021?
Here is another trending product to sell in 2021 that has been steadily growing in popularity. The search terms “Phone Tripod” and “Tripod for Phone” have seen steady growth since 2016, and really jumped in 2020. What’s interesting is that it has been trending consistently since then - it wasn’t just a flash in the pan.
So what’s driving this popularity? Camera technology on phones is improving all the time. Meanwhile, editing software for videos and photos is getting ever easier to use. So, just thanks to our phones, we’re turning into film-makers and photographers, with tripods there to help us.
Tips on how to market this product:
As with laptop skins, this product should be associated with specific brands and models. Also, think international with this product niche. This can be a really popular product to sell online in markets in Asia. For example, demand in India follows a similar pattern to that in the US.
If you don’t have any experience of selling internationally, check out this detailed guide to setting up your e-commerce store for international sales.
10. Air fryer
Why is this product popular in 2021?
With restaurants closed and many of us stuck inside, cooking has been a huge trend in terms of popular products over the last 12 months. Shoppers are keen to try out new dishes and cooking styles, and cooking equipment that helps them do so is in high demand. For evidence of this, look no further than the air fryer. It has sky-rocketed in popularity in the last 4 years and shows no signs of letting up.
Tips on how to market this product:
Air fryers cook products in a similar way to a deep fat fryer but using much less oil. As a result, the food is healthier but still tastes great. So be sure to pitch this as a way to eat healthier. This product is especially appealing to parents because it’s easy to use, and gives them a healthier way to serve up food kids love like fries and nuggets.
11. Nail polish
Why is this product popular in 2021?
Nail polish has been a popular search term online for decades, trending consistently. But what has changed in the last 12 months is that these searches are now more likely to lead to higher e-commerce sales. Why?
Again, this is another product that’s popular because we’re all stuck at home. With nail salons closed, shoppers have fewer places to buy nail polish and need a larger stock of their own polish. Just look at what happened last March to search volume for the term “nail polish” compared to those for the term “nail salon.”
With many people having learned to do their own nails and looking to experiment and improve their skills, this trend is set to continue.
Tips on how to market this product:
Shoppers are looking for variety when it comes to this high demand product. They want to experiment, trying out different colors and textures. So a smart trick is to use carousel photo galleries rather than individual product photos. You can set up carousel photo galleries on the store, but they are especially impactful on social media. Why? Because they let prospective shoppers see your range of products and stimulate their curiosity and creativity.
12. Peel-off face masks
Why is this product popular in 2021?
While we’re on the topic of beauty products, we need to talk about peel-off face masks. These products have been steadily growing in popularity over the past few years and saw a real spike in interest during the COVID-19 induced lockdowns last year.
What’s behind this trending product’s recent success? Peel-off face masks have been popular skincare products in South Korea and Japan for a long time. Now they’re taking over in America and Europe as well. Good quality face masks refresh and purify your skin, and there’s something immensely satisfying about peeling them off to reveal the new you once a day. Their popularity has also coincided with our increasing use of video conferencing platforms like Zoom or it’s alternative. Why? Well, these programs aren’t always flattering, and seeing ourselves regularly on our own screens makes many of us more self-conscious. This behavior is not going anywhere, even if we start getting back into the office. So keep an eye out for skin care products in the future.
Tips on how to market this product:
One great form of content for promoting this popular product is videos. You can produce these yourself or get an influencer involved. Many of your customers will be new to peel-off masks, so a helpful video explaining how to apply them and going through the different brands and products you offer will really help with conversions.
13. Kayak accessories
Why is this product popular in 2021?
From stuck indoors to the great outdoors, let’s take a look at another hot product niche, kayak accessories. According to Statista, there were already almost 12 million kayakers in the US in 2019.
And 2020 was a boom year for activities like hiking, fishing, and kayaking. With nowhere else to go, many of us discovered (or rediscovered) outdoor hobbies. And one of the great things about hobbies as a niche is once someone is hooked, they will keep coming back for more products and accessories. This can really help your profitability. If you can attract a customer to your store and make a good impression, they’re likely to become a loyal return shopper. And don’t forget, every one of those return purchases comes with zero marketing cost to you.
The popularity of kayaking has grown over the last two years, especially last year.
So think about adding kayak accessories and clothing to your e-commerce store.
Tips on how to market this product:
The key thing to remember about any outdoor products is that sales will be seasonal. You need to figure out the seasonal cycle of kayaking in your region, then tailor your communication and marketing accordingly. Spring will always be a huge sales period, while activity may be pretty flat in autumn and winter. Plan out some seasonal deals or bundles for these quiet periods, and be sure to advertise hard before the springtime to ensure your top of mind when the weather picks up.
14. Beard oil
Why is this product popular in 2021?
Male grooming has been a trend for at least a decade now. And one of the more recent arrivals to this popular product niche is beard oil.
The growth in beard care products is being driven by young men. According to research on beard care by Statista, 42% of those using beard care products are aged 18 to 29. This means there is plenty of potential for growth in this area as these young consumers mature. This is also a seasonal product in terms of sales, although it’s becoming less so over time.
Tips on how to market this product:
With the audience for this product skewed towards younger generations, social media is an obvious choice for marketing. Try Youtube, either for running ads or having your own channel. Estimates suggest that roughly 65% of Youtube’s audience is male. However, if you find Google Ads to be too complicated, check out our Google Ads alternatives list. Instagram is another good option.
15. Massage guns
Why is this product popular in 2021?
Wellness has been an ever-growing niche in recent years. And massage guns hit a nice sweet spot. On the one hand, massage is a great way to help keep your body in good shape. It’s especially useful for improving recovery time if you exercise a lot. On the other hand, this is also a great way to unwind and destress, so it helps with your mental wellbeing too.
No surprise then that massage guns, hand-held devices that offer deep massages, are becoming more and more popular. In the last 2 years, the number of searches for this product has increased significantly.
Tips on how to market this product:
The search data shows that this is clearly a popular gift item (as is often the case with consumer electronics). So plan your marketing and promotions around the holiday season, especially Black Friday.
16. Microphones
Why is this product popular in 2021?
Whether you’re a podcaster, a vlogger, or you just want a better quality sound in those daily Zoom meetings with work, a quality microphone is a must. As the technology continually improves, sounding great on your computer is now something most people can afford. As a result, interest in microphones is growing fast, especially with more of us now working from home.
Tips on how to market this product:
If you want to start selling in this niche, be focused. Pick a specific type of microphone to stock first (for example, USB microphones). Then create some good quality content explaining how to use these products, focusing on targeting specific search terms such as “USB microphones for zoom meetings” to catch specific customers. Don’t forget people will be searching for microphones for a whole host of different reasons. Be clear on who you products are for and what the best way to use them is.
17. Mattresses
Why is this product popular in 2021?
This is one of those lovely product niches that is steadily growing in popularity year after year. This is partly a result of the general shift from brick-and-mortar retail to shopping online. Mattresses are exactly the type of product that you would traditionally go to a physical store to buy. But customers are becoming more and more confident when it comes to buying online. Hence the increase in online interest and the growing number of “bed-in-a-box” companies. Take a look at the Google search data for mattresses for the last decade.
No dramatic surges in interest, just a steady increase in the number of people searching online for mattresses.
Tips on how to market this product:
Returns policy is something you have to get right with this product. A comfortable mattress is one of the most important pieces of furniture you’re going to invest in, so people want the ability to try them out first. So, offer a trial period with your products and make it easy to return them. Then communicate this clearly from the very beginning - you’ll be removing one of the big questions shoppers will have when considering an online mattress purchase.
If you want a great example, take a look at how Nolan Mattress does it. They offer a generous 120-day trial on their products - this includes free pick up and a full refund, plus the mattress goes to charity. Most importantly, they draw attention to their 120-day trial right from the get-go on their homepage.
And Nolan has one more trick up its sleeve. At checkout, you can choose to remove the trial period and save $100. This gives even more customers even more choice and flexibility and is a smart tactic to copy if you’re concerned about the volume of returns you may have to deal with.
18. Rugs
Why is this product popular in 2021?
Staying with homeware, let’s talk rugs! Since we’re all spending a lot more time at home, products for making our homes more comfortable and beautiful are booming in popularity. Forecasts by Statista on the Furniture & Homeware e-commerce sector suggest this niche will grow by 6.6% every year until 2025. By that point, it will be generating almost $300 million in revenue per year.
And rugs are set to comprise a decent chunk of this overall online revenue, with their popularity steadily increasing over the last 10 years.
Tips on how to market this product:
Color and design matter a lot with rugs. But don’t forget these items are also all about the comfort they will bring to a room. So help shoppers get an idea of how your rugs feel as well as look. You can do this with clever photography, ensuring the lighting emphasizes the particular texture and shooting close-ups of the rug itself. And put your copy to good use with vivid descriptions of the touch and feel of each rug. Check out this example of a product pic and description by Land of Rugs for inspiration.
The lighting of the product photo emphasizes the texture perfectly (they also have a series of zoomed-in images so you can see the exact materials used). And the product description repeatedly highlights the feel of the product:
- “Beautiful deep pile”
- “Super soft”
- “Fluffy”
- “Extra cozy feel”
- “Feels wonderful under the foot”
- “Unbeatable softness”
So make sure your product pages follow this example and focus on feeling.
19. Resistance bands
Why is this product popular in 2021?
Another lock-down inspired trend, resistance bands have jumped in popular and look set to continue their hot sales streak into 2021 and beyond. Resistance bands are exercise bands used for strengthening and toning muscle. So naturally, with gyms largely closed since last March, many fitness fanatics have turned to these products to add another dimension to their home workout.
As the Google Trends data shows, a significant dip in searches for “Gym membership” coincided with a huge jump in interest for “resistance bands.” What’s interesting is that this popularity has been carried through into 2021. As new workouts and content appear all the time based around using resistance bands, they have become an attractive long-term alternative to a gym membership.
Tips on how to market this product:
Include inspiring user-generated content on your homepage and product pages. The whole point of resistance bands is that anyone can use them, anywhere. Plus there’s nothing more motivating for customers than seeing ordinary people just like them achieve great results with resistance bands.
20. Dog beds
Why is this product popular in 2021?
Many pet products are purchased regularly and don’t need to be tried out in a physical store. So this sector lends itself perfectly to e-commerce. Online shopping for pet products has been booming over the last 5 or 6 years.
In terms of specific products, dog beds have been steadily growing in popularity over the last 5 years. Plus, as with other pet-related products, this product witnessed something of a spike last year during the first period of COVID-19 related lockdowns.
Tips on how to market this product:
With pet products, cuteness sells. Pet owners love pampering their pets. And while they will certainly be very serious when it comes to buying the right food and medicine for their furry companions, with accessories like dog beds they’re ready to loosen up and have some fun. So aim to make your Facebook ads, banners, and product pages fun and entertaining with bright colors and pet-related wordplay. Check out this example of a banner by Pet Flow - it’s colorful, fun, and super cute. If Facebook Ads are too much for you, don’t worry, we have an extensive guide to advertising alternatives to Facebook Ads.
21. Blankets
Why is this product popular in 2021?
Wow, we made it all the way to product 21. And what better product to end with than blankets (you’ll be needing a rest after adding all these trending products to your online store!) Seriously though, blankets are another homeware product that is steadily becoming more popular. Here’s what has happened to searches for the term “blankets” over the last 2 years.
So, what makes blankets one of the best products to sell online in 2021? Well, compared to other products in the homeware & furniture e-commerce niche, this is a product that is relatively straightforward in terms of shipping and returns. You can also cover a wide range of customer demographics. You can target students kitting out their first dorm room with budget items right through to interior designers furnishing boutique homes. This is a versatile product with a broad range of possibilities.
Tips on how to market this product:
The versatility we just mentioned can also pose a problem. If you just present yourself as an online store for blankets, you’re unlikely to appeal to a specific target audience. So instead, have a focus and curate a range of products that reflects it. Create a niche within the niche. You could go for a specific design or purpose (for example, travel or outdoor blankets). Or you can specialize in blankets made from specific materials, or blankets sourced or produced in a particular way. For example, the Tartan Blanket Co. has a narrow range of high-quality products. They all have a similar design (the clue is in the company’s name) and they’re all produced using recycled materials.
Having a narrow focus for your products will help when creating target audiences for your ads (tip: use an automated tool with algorithms that target the right audience at the right time to get the best results). It will also help with SEO as you can focus on ranking well for specific product searches where you have a better chance of success.
Best selling products to sell online: the takeaways
As you can see, there are loads of popular products to sell online. In fact, we could have made a list of 50 trending products in 2021 (having read through all 21, I think you’ll agree that was enough for now).
So, whether you’re starting your first online store or expanding into new product areas, the possibilities are endless.
When you’re selecting some of these trending products in 2021 to go for, remember to:
- Choose products you’re passionate about: From ads to web copy to customer support, your passion for the products you’re selling (or lack of it) will come across loud and clear. So pick products you have a natural curiosity for and that you would buy yourself. If you’re a gadget nerd, go for USB microphones. If you’re crazy about fitness, stock resistance bands.
- Create a specific marketing strategy: If you’re moving into a new product area, don’t assume the tactics you’ve used in the past will work. Different products require different approaches. So take a fresh perspective and don’t forget to do your research. See how competitors market their products and dive into forums to get an idea of what matters most to customers.
With this approach, any one of the 21 trending products we’ve identified should be a recipe for riches in 2021.
Once you’ve selected the type of product you want to sell, learn more about how to find exactly the product you’re looking for (check out our in-depth article on finding winning products for dropshipping if you’re running a dropshipping store).
Then you’re all set for a bumper 2021!
